Let’s play a little game! What does Draco the Dragon, Orion and his star filled belt, and Ursa Major have in common, but The Big Dipper does not?
They are constellations! Did you know that the Big Dipper is not classified as a constellation? I only learned that fact when reading some awesome books about constellations with my kids.
My little ones got so into learning about stars and constellations that we ended up creating a Unit Study all about them!
Our Stars and Constellations Unit Study, like all of our Unit Studies, takes one big topic “Stars and Constellations” and breaks it down into 10 bite sized subtopics. Each bite sized subtopic includes a hands on activity, interesting facts, information to read, a Youtube video, and, of course a book suggestion!
You can find the full Stars and Constellations Unit Study right here. And below you can find the 10 books about constellations and stars for kids that we suggest in the unit study.
This post contains my Amazon affiliate links so you can check out those books in more details, but I always suggest trying to get them at your local library if you can!
Ten Books about Constellations for Kids:
Night Sky Atlas: The Universe Mapped, Explored, and Revealed, DK. Take an unforgettable journey through the Universe as you explore the night sky. Do you know how our Moon affects the Earth’s tides? Or that the best time of year to spot Orion is in January? Prepare yourself for an amazing journey across the night sky. Follow a comet and discover the life cycle of a star. Pinpoint stars and constellations wherever you are in the world. This book is fun and informative for kids older children.
Look Up with Me: Neil deGrasse Tyson: A Life Among the Stars, Jennifer Blume. Follow young Neil’s journey as he discovers the wonders of space, the thrill of science, and the joy in sharing the beauty of our amazing universe. Read his favorite mind-blowing facts and learn what mysteries are left to solve. Ideal for children of all ages.
50 Things To See With A Telescope – Kids: A Constellation Focused Approach, John A. Read. This unique and engaging book about space for kids explores the constellations with young readers, guiding them to dozens of galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. Every page features a helpful “telescope view”, showing exactly how objects appear through a small telescope or binoculars. Perfect for children of all ages.
Stars, Mary Lynn Ray. This whimsical story is ideal for young children, however, like all beautiful picture books, they are delightful for readers of all ages! This story talks about stars and what they represent here on Earth, as well as talks about stars in the sky.
Zoo in the Sky: A book of animal constellations, Jacqueline Mitton. Take an illuminating ride through the starry night sky with National Geographic’s Zoo in the Sky! Little Bear and the Great Bear in the Northern Sky; the scaly dragon winding his long tail; the Great Dog chasing the Hare in the Southern Sky and more, all beautifully rendered in vibrant art and rich text. Perfect for children of all ages.
Star Stories: Constellation Tales from Around the World, Anita Ganeri. Share the wonder of the stars with this delightful storybook collection featuring constellation myths from around the world. For thousands of years people have looked up to the night sky and told stories about the stars. These epic tales tell of vengeful gods and goddesses, of monsters and heroes. Others try to make sense of the natural world, or unravel the mysterious forces of the universe. This stunning book brings together 23 of these legends from all over the world: from Ancient Greece to North America, Egypt, China, India, and the South Pacific.
What We See in the Stars: An Illustrated Tour of the Night Sky, Kelsey Oseid. Combining art, mythology, and science, What We See in the Stars gives readers a tour of the night sky through more than 100 magical pieces of original art, all accompanied by text that weaves related legends and lore with scientific facts. This beautifully packaged book covers the night sky’s most brilliant features–such as the constellations, the moon, the bright stars, and the visible planets–as well as less familiar celestial phenomena like the outer planets, nebulae, and deep space.
Constellations, Govert Schilling. Perfect for children all ages, this book about constellations is a beautifully illustrated, fascinating guide to all 88 constellations, including an illustrated star map for each. There is lots of details within this book, making it ideal for deep research, but it is also beautifully crafted, making it engaging for even the littlest of astronomers.
Starfinder, DK. Discover the wonders of the night sky with up-to-date information about the universe, including monthly charts to both the northern and southern hemisphere, and a section on observing the Moon, planets, and other bodies of the solar system.
Astronomy for Kids: How to explore outer space with a binoculars, a telescope, or just your eyes, Dr. Bruce Betts. This is a how to book to inspire children of all ages to gain some knowledge and then head outside and look up!
There you have them! Ten amazing books about constellations perfect for kids!
If you have a little one who loves learning about constellations and stars, I have a little gift for you! You can download your very own Star Clock and tell time by the stars, right here:
That star clock is just one of the ten hands on activities found within our Stars and Constellations Unit Study! I just know you will love it.
Be sure to grab your full Stars and Constellations Unit Study right here.
Thank you so much for reading!
xo
Sarah
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